have your education evaluated by a professional education company and submit the report to the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. (A list of evaluation companies is below. You must pay for any evaluation costs.)

complete required education hours from a South Dakota school (300 hours for cosmetology; 150 hours for esthetics; 60 hours for nail technicians). This education must include:

federal safety requirements (OSHA and FDA)

South Dakota safety and sanitation requirements (laws/rules)

United States product information

submit the following in English (any translations must be done by an official translator):

reciprocity application

copy of birth certificate or naturalization record

copy of high school education or GED

current photograph

work credit (if necessary)

education evaluation report mentioned above

proof of education from your South Dakota school

pay the required application and examination fees ($100)

take and pass the NIC national theory test, the NIC hands-on practical test and the South Dakota state laws/rules test from the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission

Evaluation and Translation Services

Contact the following companies for record evaluation and translation services. Foreign applicants must have their education records evaluated by one of these companies. The company report is then submitted to the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission office with the reciprocity application form (and checklist) available on our Forms page. All documents must be submitted in English. It is your responsibility to pay all costs associated with evaluation or translation services.

The following list is for convenience only. The Commission does not endorse any of these companies.